Row crop puller-shredder

ABSTRACT

An agricultural implement effective to remove from the soil implanted crop residue and the like, while at the same time preparing a seed bed for optional concomitant planting operations, the implement having puller wheels that work the soil and converge and grasp the residue below the surface of the soil in uproot the same and feed it into a shredder positioned in receiving relation thereto, the shredder being operative to comminute the residue and having means to selectively collect or distribute it about the field; and a planting assemblage selectively attachable in trailing relation to the shredder and having an orientation with respect to the puller wheels to simultaneously plant a crop in the seed bed prepared by the wheels.

United States Patent 1 1 1111 3,770,064 Scarnato-et al. 1 Nov. 6, 1973 1ROW CROP PULLER-SHREDDER 2,748,535 6 1956 Skrommc et a1 47 9 3,010,52211/1961 0 l 1 17158 [75] Inventors: Thomas J. Scarnato Barrmgton;3.295399 1,1967 2:; et aL n 56:24 James Bryan, Chwago; James 3,437,1524/1969 Barrentine 171/58 Nicholson, Lockport; Craig M. Lawler DownersGrove; Anthnny Primary Examiner-Antonio F. Guida Falanga, Lemont, all of111. An rneyFlOyd B. Harman [73] Assignee: International HarvesterCompany,

Chicago, Ill. [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: June 6 1969 An agriculturalimplement effective to remove from the soil implanted crop residue andthe like, while at PP 830,966 the same time preparing a seed bed foroptional concomitant planting operations, the implement having 52 US. Cl171/58 47/9 56/504 Pullerwheels hatwmk and Converge grasp 511 1111. Foid25/04 the residue helm the Surface [58] Field 61 Search 171/58 24 42-same and feed it a Shredder P"Sitioned receiving 56/24 121 44 12145 50047/1 1 relation thereto, the shredder being operative to com- 1 minutethe residue and having means to selectively col- [56] References Citedlect or distribute it about the field; and a planting assemblageselectively attachable in trailing relation to UNITED STATES PATENTS theshredder and having an orientation with respect to gi tthe puller wheelsto simultaneously plant a crop in the unc 706,416 8 1902 l-lotchkiss171/58 Seed bed prepared by the whee 2,718,109 9/1955 Hintz et a1.171/24 13 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PAIENTED Ill]! 6 I973 I SHEET 1 BF5 PATENTEU NOV 6 I975 SHEET 2 [IF 5 m m 5% 8 we Jim m w Z r H W a a ad/ai PATENTEDNUV ems 3770.084

' SHEET 5 CF 5 1 ROW CROP PULLER-SHREDDER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe trend in modern farming has been to find new and efficient ways toincrease productivity while reducing operationalcosts. The inventionherein disclosed relates to an agricultural implement that effects anovel approach of clearing fields of implanted crop residue whileintegrating certain other operations to produce an efficient machinecapable of combining heretofore singular farming operations into asingle process.

The invention relates directly to the problem implanted crop residueleft in a field after harvest. Such residue creates a number ofproblems, one obviously is that the remaining residue must be dealt withbefore the field can be again used for subsequent crops. However anotherconcern involves insect control, for it has been found with certaincrops, that unless such implanted residue is dealt with immediatelyafter harvest, it will harbor destructive insects capable of destroyinga subsequent similar crop.

The Pink Bollworm is an example of an insect which represents such adanger to cotton crops that there is a movement in some States torequire by law in addition to shredding and buring that fields becleared of the cotton crop residue in order to deprive the bollworm aplace to harbor in an attempt to control this menace.

Heretofore burying crop residue by deep plowing has been one of thegenerallyaccepted methods of dealing with such residues. This methodhowever requires subsequent tillage operation to place the field in acondition suitable for planting operations which is a labor consumingand expensive operation, especially where the growing season permits asecond crop.

The instant invention deals with this crop residue problem in a uniqueand revolutionary way. First of all the implement incorporates a croppulling section capable of uprooting the crop residue from the soil andfeeding the same directly into a comminuting portion arranged inreceiving relation thereto. The comminuting portion shreds the residueand then discharges it therefrom to either be collected or distributedabout the field. Itis conternplated that certain residues may havecommercial value when. comminuted and collected, thereby making thisprocess even more profitable. v I

It has been found that the instant invention through its digging andpulling operation loosens the soil sufficiently to prepare a seed bed sothat suitable'planting devices can be attached to the pulIer-comminutionportions; by this means a removing and processing of implanted cropresidue can be accomplished simultaneously with'a planting of a secondcrop, thereby necessitating only a single pass through a field for theentire operation. This method of farming is especially desirable wherethe growing season allows a second crop.

A general object of the invention is to provide a novel mobileagricultural implement which removes implanted crop residue from thesoil and comminutes the same for subsequent distribution or collection.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide as part of theimplement a pulling mechanism that grasps the crop below the surface ofthe soil to remove it therefrom while simultaneously preparing thatportion of the soil as a seed bed.

Another object of the invention is to provide as part of the implement ashredding mechanism positioned in a receiving relation to said pullingmechanism to comminute crop residue received therefrom.

A more specific object of the foregoing is to provide said shreddingmechanism with means for selectively scattering or collecting comminutedresidue discharged therefrom.

Still another object of the invention is to provide doffer meanscooperating with said pulling mechanism to direct extracted crop residueinto. the shredding mechanism.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means forselectively adjusting the penetration and attitude of the pullingmechanism for a particular crop and soil.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for selectivelypositioning the shredding mechanism with respect fo the pullingmechanism to adapt the implement to various crops and conditions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a planter which isoptionally attachable in orientation to the pulling mechanisms tosimultaneously plant a crop in the seed bed prepared by that mechanism.

These and other objects will become apparent from the followingspecifications and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view ofthe'puller-shredder implement;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a first embodiment of the invention withportions cut away to show internal parts thereof and showing a planterattached thereto;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view taken substantially at line 3-3 of FIG. 2;I

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view taken substantially at line 44of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view taken substantially at line 5-5of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6a is a diagrammatic elevational view of the puller wheels having avertical orientation with respect to the ground;

FIG. 6b is a diagrammatic plan view of the FIG. 6a;

FIG. 7 is a, fragmentary elevational view of a set of puller wheels anda static doffer in relation thereto;

FIG. 8 is a-view-of the wheels taken substantially at line 8-8 of FIG.7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary elevational view of a set of puller wheels andan active doffer in relation thereto;

FIG. 10 is a view of the wheels taken substantially at line 10-I0 ofFIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the invention featuringa static doffer; and

FIG. 12 is a. sectional view taken substantially at line l2-l3 of FIG.11.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT relation thereto for use where asimultaneous planting of a crop is desired.

Describing the first embodiment of the invention as best seen in FIG. 2,the main frame 13 comprises quadrilateral shaped front and reartransverse beams 15 and 16, respectively, and laterally spaced sidemembers 17 and 18 connected therebetween. The rear of the main frame 13is carried by ground engaging carriages designated 19 and 20 secured tothe rear transverse beam 16. Each carriage includes a wheel 21journalled on a longitudinal member 22 which is pivotally connected bypin 23a to a support bracket 23. The support bracket 23 cooperates witha clamp bracket 24 for mounting the carriages (19, 20) to the reartransverse beam 16. Both brackets 123, 24) are shaped to match the shapeof the rear beam 16. Such a mounting arrangement allows each carriage tobe selectively positioned and secured along the extent .of beam 16 tomatch the row spacings of the crops. It is also shown (FIG. 3) that thesupport bracket 13 has a plurality of holes 25 wherein each hole isdisposed to selectively register with a similar hole 26 in the pivotalmember 22 at various positions of that member as it pivoted about pin23a. When one of the holes 25 and hole 26 are aligned a pin 27 or thelike is secured therethrough to provide a simple method for selectivelyadjusting height of the rear portion of the main frame 13 above theground.

The front transverse beam 15 is attached to a tractor 8 by a hitchgenerally designated 30. The hitch comprises an A frame having members31 and 32 extending forwardly from the front portion of the main frameto a tractor connecting tongue member 33. The rearward portion of theframe has a pivotal connection comprising pairs of laterally spaced lugs34 and 35 secured to the front transverse beam 15. The A frame includesa stiffening cross member 36 which also serves as a reaction anchor forone end of a hydraulically operated ram 37 attached thereto. The otherend of the ram is pivotally connected to an upwardly extending momentarm 38 which is rigidly affixed to the front transverse beam 15. As theram 37 is extended and. retracted it acts to respectively lift and lowerthe forward portion of the main frame 13.

Located within the forward part of the main frame is the croping pullingportion 1 1 comprising a pair of crop pulling devices generallydesignated 40. It should be understood that each of the pulling devicesare essentially identical and operate on individual crop rowsindependent of each other, and that the inventive concept of theimplement is not in substance involved with the number of pullingdevices used in a particular implement.

As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 each pulling device 40 comprises a pullersupport assembly generally designated 41 having an upper support clampsection 42 shaped to complementarily fit against the front transversebeam 15. A complementary clamp 43 also shaped to match the contour ofthe front beam 15, is disposed to cooperate with the upper clamp section42 to secure the puller assembly 40 to the transverse beam. This isaccomplished by means of suitable bolts 44 extending through the clampportions 42 and 43 to thus draw and secure them about the front beam. Itshould be noticed that each pulling device can be selectively positionedalong the front beam 15 to match row crop spacings merely by looseningthe bolts 44 and sliding the entire pulling device 40 along the beam toa desired position and then be resecured at that position. As best seenin FIG. 4 the support clamp 43 is welded to a longitudinal member 45which extends downwardly and rearwardly of the front beam to a circularbase plate 46 welded thereto and having a plurality of slots 47 aboutits perimeter on which a rearwardly extending wheel rear support member49 is mounted by means of a circular plate 54. As shown in FIG. 5, thissupport member 49 has a generally rectangular shape with parallel sidemembers 50, 51 having rearwardly converging segments 52, 53. At theforward end of the rear support member 49 is welded the circular plate54 which is similar to the base plate 46. The plate 54 has holes 55therethrough disposed to register with the slots 47 of base plate 46wherein both plates receive bolts 56 therethrough for adjustablysecuring the longitudinal support members (45, 49) to each other. Thisconnection allows the rear support member 49 to be clamped in a positionwith its side walls 50, 51 either vertically disposed or in a pluralityof other positions thus providing means for canting this entire rearsupport member within a range determined by the slots 47.

Bolted to each segment 52, 53 of the rear support member 49 is astandard 58 having an integral spindle 59 extending angularly in adownward and rearward direction. On each spindle is journalled a pullerwheel 60 thus producing a pair of cooperating rotatable puller wheelshaving a cant disposition with respect to each other. Wedges 61 areselectively positioned between the hub 58 and the respective convergingsegment (52,53) on which it is mounted to provide an adjustment forselecting the degree of cant and convergence of the puller wheels 60 andlongitudinal position of the location of maximum convergence C of thewheels.

Normally each standard 58 is secured to the rear support member 49 insuch a manner that the wheels 60 are substantially symmetricallydisposed relative to each other and to a hypothetical plane P interposedbetween the wheels as shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 6a and 6b. Eachpulling assembly 40 is mounted on the main frame so that this plane P issubstantially aligned with the direction of travel resulting in thewheels being in a general symmetrical disposition relative to the row ofcrop residue during normal operations. With this arrangement each pairof cooperating pulling wheels 60 will have their centers 8' aligned in adirection substantially normal to the direction of travel and saidhypothetical plane is indicated by a center line AA pass through theircenters B.

The pulling wheels 60 have a skeletal make up to allow soil to freelypass therethrough. Each puller wheel 60 comprises a hub 65 with radialspokes 62 extending therefrom connecting to a rim 63. The hub 61 isjournalled on its respective spindle 59 to allow the entire wheel tofreely rotate about the spindle as the wheel is dragged along andthrough the ground. The rim 63 of each puller wheel has disposed aboutits outer surface protuberant lug portions 64 (see FIGS 7 and 8)integral therewith to increase the drag of the wheel through the groundto assure rotation of the wheels necessary for crop-pulling action.

The general principle of operation of the crop-pulling wheels is thatthe implanted crop be grasped at the location of convergence C and asthe puller wheels cooperatively rotate rearwardly and upwardly causingan upward force to be imparted to the grasped crop with the result thatcrop is extracted from the soil. The puller assembly herein describeduses this general principle in a particular manner. First, the hydraulicram 37 is operated to position the front portion of the main frame at anelevation which will position the vertical attitude of the pullerassembly 40 such that the puller wheels penetrate the groundsufficiently to assure that the pair of pulling wheels cooperate to actdirectly on the root of the implanted crop residue. Prior to this thewedges 61 are adjusted to select the amount of convergence of the wheelswith respect to the implanted crop being extracted. Along with thisadjustment the location of maximum convergence C is positioned at alocation just slightly rearward of transverse center alignment of thewheels which is heretofore indicated by the line A-A. Furthermore it hasbeen found that with certain crops excellent pulling performance can beassured by canting the pair of pulling wheels so that the interposedplane P is disposed angularly to the ground rather than having avertical relation therewith. This adjustment is made by loosening thebolts 56 securing the slotted circular base plate 46 of the forwardmember 45 to circular plate 54 of the rear support member 49 androtating that support member 54 in the slots 47 of the base plate 46until a desired angle is obtained. When the vwheel pair is canted asdescribed, the implanted residue will be grasped angularly thusproviding a more firm grasp of the wheels on the implanted crop.

As hereinbefore described each pulling device uses a pair of rotatablewheels that penetrate the ground while they simultaneously rotate andextract implanted crops as the entire device is pulled along the fieldin line with rows of implanted crop residue. When the pulling wheels arecanted the implanted residue enters between the pulling wheels 60 and isgrasped at the point of convergence, twisted slightly, and pulledlaterally and upwardly and rearwardly by the rotating wheels 60 as theycontinue to rotate rearwardly and upwardly. Thereafter the wheelsdiverge thus releasing and delivering the extracted crop which isfurther processed by the comminution portion 12.

' It can be appreciated that the entire crop pulling processhereinbefore described is also effective for loosening the soil andpreparing a preliminary seed bed of adequate depth for concomitantplanting operations.

To aid in the delivery of extracted crop residue into the comminutionportion 12 and to keep the pulling wheels free entangled crop residue,means for doffing the extracted residue have been provided.

FIGS. 2 and 3, show the invention using an active doffer assemblygenerally designated 70. The doffer as sembly which includes a shaft 71is journalled in side walls 80, 81 which extend upwardly from thelongitudinal side support l7, 18 respectively. The shaft 71 is drivinglyconnected to a power train generally designated 84 which includes anarticulated and telescoping drive shaft 85 powered by a power take-off86 of conventional design on the tracter 8 (FIG. 1). The shaft 71 isjournalled between said side walls 80, 81 and is disposed substantiallyaligned with and slightly rearward of, the center line A-A of the pullerwheels 60 (FIG. 2). Mounted on the shaft to rotate in conjunctiontherewith are doffer flails 72 disposed to rotate between the pullerwheels as shown best in FIGS. 2 and 10. The flails are mounted on a hub73 which is secured to the shaft in the position between the wheels. The

shaft and flails are driven to rotate in the direction indicated by thearrows in FIGS. 3 and 9, so that the doffer flails contact and impelcrop residue toward the comminution portion as. the extracted residue isdirected upward and released by the divergence of the puller wheels.

It is also contemplated that an inexpensive static doffer 90 shown on amodified embodiment of the implement generally designated 89 in FIGS. 7,11 and 12 can be used under certain conditions. This doffer wouldcomprise a heavy metal plate having a slight curvature and rigidlyaffixed to the rearward extent of the wheel support 49 and disposed toextend in an upward and rearward direction in relation to thecomminution portion to direct residue thereinto.

The pulling assemblies are enclosed by a downwardly and rearwardlyextending transverse wall 91 and top walls 92 having swingable frontflaps 93 with each of the walls having connections to the side walls 80and 81 and intermediate side walls 94 and 95.

Located just rearward of the puller wheels and in crop receivingrelation thereto is the comminution portion 12. The comminution portioncomprises a driven flail rotor 100 having a plurality of. swingableflail knives 101 attached thereto. The rotor is jornalled in a heavystructural rotor housing 102 which is pivotally journalled on the sidemembers 17 and 18 of the main frame 13 on stub axles 103 secured to therotor housing 102 and located in aligned positions rearwardly of theflail rotor. The rotor housing is disposed within the main frame 13 suchthat the position of the flail rotor therein is substantially transverseto the direction of travel and has a crop receiving opening 104 which isin close proximity with the puller wheels and cooperating doffers. Ahydraulically driven ram 105 is operatively connected between the mainframe 13 and the rotor housing 102 to pivot the housing about the axles103 to thereby and selectively position the crop receiving opening 104of the rotor housing relative to the puller wheels and associtaeddoffers. The power train 84 includes tension correcting means 87 tomaintain proper tension on the drive 87a to the flail rotor within thelimits of travel of the rotor housing.

The flail rotor rotates in the direction as indicated by the arrows inFIG. 3 and the extracted crop residue is introduced into the forwardlydisposed, transverse opening 104 across the lower extent of the rotorhousing. As the extracted crop residue is fed upwardly and rearwardly itis impelled or directed by the doffer into the upper portions of theopening 104 at locations where the flail knives on the rotor 100 beginon an upward and then rearward course. Since the rotor operates at veryhigh speeds comminution begins upon contact of the residue with theflails.

The top of the rotor housing merges into a chute 106 which extendssubstantially across the transverse extent of the housing. It iscontemplated that detachable chute extension 107 can be coupled to thechute 106 when comminuted crop residue is to be conducted away from theimplement for field distribution or collection into a mobile receptaclesuch asa wagon. Since the lower extent of the chute 106 defines anopening 108 across the top of the rotor housing it is contemplated thata closure 109 having additional shear bars 110 can be used in lieu ofthe extension 107 when the crop residue is to be finely comminuted andscattered about the field from the rearward portion of the lower opening104.

It should be appreciated that by pivotally mounting the rotor housingthe attitude of the crop receiving rotor housing opening 104 and rotor100 can be selectively positioned through operation of the hydraulic ram105; thereby allowing the operator to position the comminution portion12 relative to the pulling portion 11 to select an optimum feedreceiving relationship therebetweeen for a particular field and cropcondition.

When a new crop is to be planted simultaneously with thepulling-comminution operations the planter 14 is coupled to the reartransverse beam 16 in trailing relation to the implement. Each plantercomprises a pair of parallel arcuate frame members 110 pivotallyconnected to hydraulic ram 112a and respective clamping brackets 111cooperating therewith for adjustably clamping the planter at selectedtransverse positions along the rear beam 16 for operatively aligning andelevationally positioning the planter with its respective pullingassembly 40 in order that a new crop can be 20 planted in ground brokenand tilled by the crop pulling operations. Mounted between, and to theparallel, the frame members 110 of each planter is a pair of hillingdiscs 112, a rotary hoe 113, a furrow opener 114, a

seed box 115 and a press wheel 116.

Each of the arcuate frame members 1 10 have an arm integral therewithwhich extends angularly downward and rearward of the rear transversebeam 16 on which the rotary hoe is mounted so that the hoe willsubstantially mix the soil as the entire apparatus is pulled by thetowing vehicle.

The furrow opener 1 14 is coupled to and between the arcuate sidemembers to the rear of the rotary hoe 113 and is operative for finalpreparation of the soil just before receiving seeds from the seed box115 positioned on top of the furrow opener 114. The press wheel 116 isrotatably mounted to rearwardly extending arms 1 17 which are coupled tothe furrow opener and seed box and is operative for pressing the seeddeposited from the seed box into the soil.

The cooperation between each pulling device 40 and their respectivedofi'ers 70 or 90 and the comminution portion 12 enables the cottonstalks or the like to be removed from the soil, shredded and disposed ofwhile the rotary hoe and billing disks simultaneously prepare the soilfor planting seeds deposited from the seed box. Considerable time willbe saved by farmers in that heretofore they were required to firstremove the stalks from the field and then go back over the field atleast one more time to prepare it for planting and depositing seeds.Since cotton fields, corn fields, etc., encompass often many acres it isobvious that the time saved by the farmer in being able to traverse thefield once and accomplish the same result that presently necessitatestraversing the field at least twice will result in a considerable savingin expenses, increased efficiency and profit margins.

It is believed that the invention has been described in sufficientdetail so as to enable the skilled artisan to understand and practicethe same. Variations in size, proportion, and arrangement of partsthereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. An agricultural implement adapted to travel through a field in apredetermined direction for removing implanted crop residue from thesoil and processing the same comprising: a mobile frame, crop pullingmeans comprising a pair of rotatable members mounted on said frame beingcooperatively disposed to effect a gripping action on the root portionof said residue below the surface of the soil to draw portions thereofbelow said members from the ground, comminution means disposed todirectly receive and comminute the extracted crop from said pullingmeans, doffer means disposed in cooperative relation to both saidpulling means and comminution means to transfer the extracted crop fromsaid pulling means to said comminution means, said pulling meanscomprising a pair of puller wheels, means for adjustably coupling saidwheels to said frame, each of said wheels being disposed in asymmetrical relation to the other into an interposed plane having anorientation substantially aligned with said direction of travel, saidpair of wheels being operative to cooperatively rotate downwardly toplow up the soil to prepare a seed bed while said wheels converginglygrasp plant stalks at their roots and extract them andto rotatedivergingly upward to release the stalks, said comminution meanscomprising a housing pivotally coupled to said frame rearward of saidpulling means, a driven flail rotor mounted within said housing anddisposed substantially transverse to the direction of travel, saidhousing having an extent enclosing upper and rearward portions of saidrotor, said housing having an open forward portion adjacent said pullerwheels and disposed in receiving relation thereto, and means forpivoting said housing on said frame to selectively adjust the attitudeof said open forward portion with respect to said puller wheels toselect optimum receipt of crop residue.

2. The invention according to claim 1 and said extent of the housinghaving a discharge opening disposed over said rotor, a chutecommunicating with said discharge opening for conducting comminuted cropresidue from said implement, and means for selectively closing saiddischarge opening to divert discharge of the comminuted crop therefrom.

3. An agricultural apparatus for removing plant stalks from the soil andprocessing the same comprising:

a mobile frame;

a pair of puller wheels coupled to said frame, said puller wheelsconverging and cooperatively rotating downwardly to plow up the soil toprepare a seeding bed and simultaneously grasping plant stalks at theirroots beneath the soil and extracting them and diverging as they rotateupwardly to release the stalks;

doffer means coupledto the frame between said puller wheels fordischarging the released stalks therefrom;

a chopper coupled to said frame having a crop receiving opening inreceiving relationship to said doffer means for receiving the stalksfrom the puller wheels and shredding the stalks conveyed thereto by saiddoffer means; and

soil preparing and seed planting means coupled to said frame forsimultaneously preparing the soil for planting and depositing the seedsin said plowed seeding bed.

4. An agricultural apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein each wheel isof skeletal construction and means for adjustably mounting the wheelsfrom the frame, and said means adapted to mutually adjust said wheelsrelative to each other and to the planting means and to the shredder.

5. An agricultural apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said doffercomprises:

a shaft rotatably mounted on the frame,

a plurality of fingers on the shaft, said fingers sweeping between thewheels and paddling the stalks therefrom toward the crop receivingopening of said chopper.

6. An agricultural apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said chopperand said crop receiving opening is aligned with the discharge of stalksfrom said puller wheels, said chopper having a rotary flail assembly inthe housing rotatable on an axis transverseto the delivery path ofresidue from said puller wheels and having a receiving sidesubstantially coextensive with said opening facing said puller wheels,and at said receiving side sweeping upwardly in the direction ofpresentation of the material from the puller wheels.

7. The invention according to claim 6 and said doffer being rotatable onan axis transverse to the movement of the stalks by the puller wheelsand having a sweep contra said movement of said stalks for propellingthe stalks being directed upwardly by the puller wheels into said inletopening.

8. An agricultural apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said meansfor planting the seed comprises:

a furrow opener operative in the seed bed to open a furrow;

a seed box coupled to said furrow opener having means for depositingseeds into the furrow; and

means including a press wheel for establishing the deposited seed intothe soil.

9. An agricultural apparatus for removing crop stalks including theroots from the soil, comprising:

a mobile frame;

plurality pairs of adjustable puller wheels adjustably coupled to saidframe converging as they rotate downwardly and rearwardly seizing thestalk and its roots beneath the ground and diverging as they rotateupwardly and forwardly to release the stalks and operative to plow arespective plurality of planting strips on the process of removing thestalks:

a doffer coupled to said frame and positioned between each of said pairsof pulling wheels;

a rotary chopper carried by said frame behind said doffer to receive thestalks therefrom and having means for dispersing the shredded stalkswith respect to said planting strips;

supports coupled to the frame;

soil preparing means carried by each support; and

planting means carried by the supports behind said soil preparing means;and adjustably aligned therewith in respective planting strips forpreparing the same and planting seeds therein.

10. An agricultural apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said dofferfurther comprises:

a fingered rotatable assembly interposed between and coupled to theframe for forcibly flipping the stalks from out of each of said pairs ofpuller wheels at the areas of their release of the stalks into saidchopper.

11. An agricultural apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein each of saiddoffers comprises:

a static element interposed between each pair of wheels and presentingan upwardly rearwardly sloping surface wedging the stalks rearwardlyinto the chopper.

12. An agricultural apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said soilpreparing means comprises:

rotary hoe means rotatably mounted on each of said supports.

13. An agricultural apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein saidplanting means comprises:

a furrow opener behind each rotary hoe;

a seed box coupled to said furrow opener having means for depositing theseeds into the soil; and

a press wheel for pressing the deposited seeds firmly into the soil.

1. An agricultural implement adapted to travel through a field in apredetermined direction for removing implanted crop residue from thesoil and processing the same comprising: a mobile frame, crop pullingmeans comprising a pair of rotatable members mounted on said frame beingcooperatively disposed to effect a gripping action on the root portionof said residue below the surface of the soil to draw portions thereofbelow said members from the ground, comminution means disposed todirectly receive and comminute the extracted crop from said pullingmeans, doffer means disposed in cooperative relation to both saidpulling means and comminution means to transfer the extracted crop fromsaid pulling means to said comminution means, said pulling meanscomprising a pair of puller wheels, means for adjustably coupling saidwheels to said frame, each of said wheels being disposed in asymmetrical relation to the other into an interposed plane having anorientation substantially aligned with said direction of travel, saidpair of wheels being operative to cooperatively rotate downwardly toplow up the soil to prepare a seed bed while said wheels converginglygrasp plant stalks at their roots and extract them and to rotatedivergingly upward to release the stalks, said comminution meanscomprising a housing pivotally coupled to said frame rearward of saidpulling means, a driven flail rotor mounted within said housing anddisposed substantially transverse to the direction of travel, saidhousing having an extent enclosing upper and rearward portions of saidrotor, said housing having an open forward portion adjacent said pullerwheels and disposed in receiving relation thereto, and means forpivoting said housing on said frame to selectively adjust the attitudeof said open forward portion with respect to said puller wheels toselect optimum receipt of crop residue.
 2. The invention according toclaim 1 and said extent of the housing having a discharge openingdisposed over said rotor, a chute communicating with said dischargeopening for conducting comminuted crop residue from said implement, andmeans for selectively closing said discharge opening to divert dischargeof the comminuted crop therefrom.
 3. An agricultural apparatus forremoving plant stalks from the soil and processing the same comprising:a mobile frame; a pair of puller wheels coupled to said frame, saidpuller wheels converging and cooperatively rotating downwardly to plowup the soil to prepare a seeding bed and simultaneously grasping plantstalks at their roots beneath the soil and extracting them and divergingas they rotate upwardly to release the stalks; doffer means coupled tothe frame between said puller wheels for discharging the released stalkstherefrom; a chopper coupled to said frame having a crop receivingopening in receiving relationship to said doffer means for receiving thestalks from the puller wheels and shredding the stalks conveyed theretoby said doffer means; and soil preparing and seed planting means coupledto said frame for simultaneously preparing the soil for planting anddepositing the seeds in said plowed seeding bed.
 4. An agriculturalapparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein each wheel is of skeletalconstruction and means for adjustably mounting the wheels from theframe, and said means adapted to mutually adjust said wheels relative toeach other and to the planting means and to the shredder.
 5. Anagricultural apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said doffercomprises: a shaft rotatably mounted on the frame, a plurality offingers on the shaft, said fingers sweeping between the wheels andpaddling the stalks therefrom toward the crop receiving opening of saidchopper.
 6. An agricultural apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein saidchopper and said crop receiving opening is aligned with the discharge ofstalks from said puller wheels, said chopper having a rotary flailassembly in the housing rotatable on an axis transverse to the deliverypath of residue from said puller wheels and having a receiving sidesubstantially coextensive with said opening facing said puller wheels,and at said receiving side sweeping upwardly in the direction ofpresentation of the material from the puller wheels.
 7. The inventionaccording to claim 6 and said doffer being rotatable on an axistransverse to the movement of the stalks by the puller wheels and havinga sweep contra said movement of said stalks for propelling the stalksbeing directed upwardly by the puller wheels into said inlet opening. 8.An agricultural apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said means forplanting the seed comprises: a furrow opener operative in the seed bedto open a furrow; a seed box coupled to said furrow opener having meansfor depositing seeds into the furrow; and means including a press wheelfor establishing the deposited seed into the soil.
 9. An agriculturalapparatus for removing crop stalks including the roots from the soil,comprising: a mobile frame; plurality pairs of adjustable puller wheelsadjustably coupled to said frame converging as they rotate downwardlyand rearwardly seizing the stalk and its roots beneath the ground anddiverging as they rotate upwardly and forwardly to release the stalksand operative to plow a respective plurality of planting strips on theprocess of removing the stalks: a doffer coupled to said frame andpositioned between each of said pairs of pulling wheels; a rotarychopper carried by said frame behind said doffer to receive the stalkstherefrom and having means for dispersing the shredded stalks withrespect to said planting strips; supports coupled to the frame; soilpreparing means carried by each support; and planting means carried bythe supports behind said soil preparing means; and adjustably alignedtherewith in respective planting strips for preparing the same andplanting seeds therein.
 10. An agricultural apparatus as defined inclaim 9 wherein said doffer further comprises: a fingered rotatableassembly interposed between and coupled to the frame for forciblyflipping the stalks from out of each of said pairs of puller wheels atthe areas of their release of the stalks into said chopper.
 11. Anagricultural apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein each of saiddoffers comprises: a static element interposed between each pair ofwheels and presenting an upwardly rearwardly sloping surface wedging thestalks rearwardly into the chopper.
 12. An agricultural apparatus asdefined in claim 9 wherein said soil preparing means comprises: rotaryhoe means rotataBly mounted on each of said supports.
 13. Anagricultural apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said plantingmeans comprises: a furrow opener behind each rotary hoe; a seed boxcoupled to said furrow opener having means for depositing the seeds intothe soil; and a press wheel for pressing the deposited seeds firmly intothe soil.